CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4553, 20 April 1923, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MEETING. A meeting of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce was held in the County Chambers on Wednesday evening. Mr E. W. Porritt presided over an attendance of 12 members. RIVERS IMPROVEMENT, The Minister of Public Works wrote stating that the resolution urging that steps be taken during the coming session to amend the Waihou and Ohinemuri Rivers Improvement Act to relieve the settlers within the Pereniki ponding area would receive consideration.—Received. SECOND CONSTABLE. The Minister of Justice wrote informing the Chamber that the matter of appointing a second constable at Paeroa would receive his careful consideration. PAEROA POST OFFICE. The postmaster-General advised that the matter of the erection of the Paeroa post office would receive further consideration. Messrs Marshall and Cassrels spoke, and said that the usual replies had been received again, and it was tim 3 that something was done. Mr Cassrels suggested that the files of inward correspondence be examined and the Ministers of the varous departments informed of the exact number of times they had given the reply “that the matter would receive consideration.” - Mr Marshall moved that the letters in regard to the post, office and the Paeroa-Pokeno railway be acknowledges and the Ministers asked when the Chamber could expect to hear the recommendations. Mr Cassrels seconded,' and the motion; was carried. ; - PRICE OF- MOTORS. The Netherton Ratepayers’ Association wrote in regard to the price of motors and lighting plants charged by the Power Board, and - asked for support in sending a deputation to the nex* meeting of the board'on the matter. , ’ The chairman said the best policy would be to write to the Power Board and ask for an explanation. Mr Marshal] asked whether it was a matter for the Chamber. It appeared that the Chamber was being made an accessory by all who had complaints to make. The chairman pointed out that th? date of the meeting had passed, and on his motion the letter was received. .. WEEKLY HALF-HOLIDAY. The chairman reported that a deputation from the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association had asked permission to put the views of the farmers before the meeting. The deptuation was present the previous evening, but the meeting had been adjourned. As the day had already, been fixed nothing could be done until next year. On the motion of Mr Marshall, seconded by Mr de Castro, it was decided that, the association be advised of this and invited to discuss the question when it came up next year. HARBOUR BOARD SCHEME. The chairman said that a resolution had been passed deferring criticism of this matter until after both sides had been heard. The question now arose as to what action the

Chamber would take. Mr de Castro said the first step would be to take a ballot of members. Mr Edwards suggested that as it was quite obvious that the proposals would not be advantageous to Paeroa, the Chamber should express the opinion that it. was against the scheme. Mr Silcock thought that the Chamber should give some guide to the ratepayers. The Borough Council members were unanimously against it, and every local body should express an opinion. There was no doubt that if the scheme were carried the Board did not want, any but barge traffic in the Waihou River. The Paeroa-Fokeno railway would never progress if there was a harbour a* Thames. Mr Edwards moved, and Mr Silcock seconded, that the Chamber recommend to the ratepayers of Paeroa and district that they strongly oppose the loan proposals to be voted on on the 26th, and that the members of the chamber urge the ratepayers to vote against the proposals. Mr Cassrels said that the point that it would only be the apathy cf rateapyers of the district outside Thames that would carry the poll should be stressed. The chairman said that whether Paeroa liked it or not they were going to have the liability for the Waihou River upon them, and they did not want the additional liability for the Thames harbour. In regard to the control of the river, the Thames Harbour Board had taken steps to have themselves constituted the River Board, a.id in his opinion they would never take steps to keep the river open. If the Harbour Board believed their : own figures they would know that there was no necessity for them to extend their area. There was sufficient value in that area for se- . curity on £60,000. Mr Cassrels said that the Board’s argument "that as it would only cost Paeroa £3B, so why not give it a go," £ was a very poor argument. Mr Silcock mentioned that the Har hour Board delegation had made a great fuss aobut the saving of freight by rail, but had not said anything about water-borne cargo. Railage from Thames would cost Waihi 2s a ton more than they paid at present. Mr Porritt said he had introduced the matter as he had been asked by people of Waihi for the opinion of the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce. Mr Cassrels moved that a committee consisting of Messrs Porritt, Edwards, Silcock, and Brenan be formed to help oppose the loan proposals and to awake interest so that apathy would not carry the poll. Seconded by Mr Marshall and carried. Considerable discussion arose on the question of finance, and the matter was left, to Messrs Cassrels and ■de Castro. Offers of motor cars on polling day were received from manv members.